Local races set

With the filing deadline passed last week, those across north Iowa know who they will be voting for come November.
Lake Mills, will have no contested races, as the Mayor and two council positions are open.
Incumbent Candy Hanna filed for another term in office, while only one filing was recorded for the two open council seats, as political newcomer, Joe Jamtgaard filed his papers.
The means that one council seat will be filled in one of two ways: a write-in candidate gathering the most votes, can be declared the winner, if the following conditions are met: Any person who receives write-in votes at the city primary election and who wants to be eligible for the regular city election must file an affidavit of candidacy. The affidavit must be filed:
• By 5 p.m. on the day following the canvass; and the filing must be with the county auditor.
• The auditor must disregard the write-in votes for any write-in candidate who does not file an affidavit of candidacy.
Notations must be made on the abstract showing which persons received write-in votes and filed affidavits of candidacy.
If a write-in candidate wins a city election and does not want the job, the winning write-in candidate may submit a letter of resignation to the city clerk by 5 p.m. on the 10th day after the canvass. If the write-in winner does not resign within 10 days after the county canvass, the office is vacant if the write-in winner fails to take the oath of office at the beginning of the next term.
If the write-in winner submits a letter of resignation within 10 days of the canvass, the city clerk must notify the person who received the next highest number of votes that they may assume the office at the beginning of the next term. If there is a tie vote for the next highest number of votes, the board of supervisors draws lots to determine the person who received the next highest number of votes.
If the next highest vote-getter accepts by taking the oath of office at the beginning of the next term, that person is considered the duly elected officer.
The other means to fill the seat would be through council appointment, or calling for a special election.
Across North Iowa, there are also candidate shortages in Joice, where Mikkel Schmidt was the only candidate to file for two open seats.
In Scarville, incumbent Mayor, Doug Harmon filed for re-election, while three candidates: Orlyn Rosen, Jim Rodberg, and Lynn Sanden, filed for two open seats.
Leland voters have a contested Mayoral race, but no filers for the two open city council seats, as Russell Leitz and Michal Higgins filed for the top office.
Northwood has a full slate of candidates looking for office, as Roger Rustad, Douglas Moehle and Thomas Sculley, all filed for the office of Mayor. Four candidates filed papers to seek two open council positions. They are: Russell Meyer, Rhonda Taylor, Teresa George-Zenz, and Cody Madden.
The November election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, with polling locations open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.